Jan 15-16 - 13th Annual Mesilla Valley Balloon Rally
Over 90 unique and colorful balloons fill the  skies over the Mesilla Valley.  Swig Field.
(505) 526-7528.  www.mvbr.com

April TBA - La Viña Blues & Jazz Thing
A weekend of good music and good wine hosted by New Mexico’s oldest winery.  La Viña Winery,   La Union. (505) 882-7632

April 2 - Trinity Site Tour
The Trinity site is the location of the first atomic bomb explosion on earth.  The site is open to the public twice a year.  White Sands Missile Range. (505) 678-1134. www.nps.gov/whsa/home.htm

April 15-17 - Border Book Festival
This week long festival brings together authors from around the world. Live performances, food, fun and lots of reading. Various locations. (505) 524-1499

April 16-17 - 16th Annual Frontier Days
Take a trip back in time with a visit to Fort Selden State Monument as they honor the civilians and soldiers who lived at the fort and protected the residents of the Mesilla Valley after the Civil War. Among the groups honored are the Buffalo Soldiers who were some of the first soldiers assigned to the Fort. Fort Selden State Monument.  (505) 526-8911,
(800) 429-9488

May 7-8 - Cinco de Mayo Fiesta
A traditional Mexican fiesta honoring  Mexico’s second revolution. Experience traditional Mexican music, food and dancing on the historic Old Mesilla Plaza. (505) 524-3262.  www.oldmesilla.org

May 21-22 - 6th Annual Fiesta de San Ysidro
A celebration of New Mexico’s 3,000 year-old farming heritage, featuring farming demonstrations, mariachi music, folklorico dancers, and a blessing of the fields, all capped off with an evening dance. New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum. (505) 522-4100. www.frhm.org

May 28-30 - Southern New Mexico Wine Festival - The Vintners' Splash
Visitors can sample wine from the many New Mexico wineries as well as enjoy live entertainment and local vendors. Southern New Mexico State Fairgrounds. (505) 522-1232. www.nmwine.net

July 3-4 - Annual 4th of July Electric Light Parade, Celebration and Fireworks
Parade begins at Apodaca Park, corner of Solano Drive and Madrid Street. Heads south on Solano Drive, turns left on Spruce Avenue. Celebration and Fireworks are held at the Hadley Complex, 1605 Hadley Street. Both events are free and open to the public. (505) 528-3170, (505) 541-2200

Sept-Oct - Mesilla Valley Maze
It's the most fun you can have in a Corn Field.  Bring the kids and those that are "kids at heart" to the rural fun of the Mesilla Valley Maze.  Take a hayride out to the pumpkin patch to look for the perfect Jack-O-Lantern, then discover the many twists and turns amazingly cut into a corn field. Saturdays and Sundays. 3855 West Picacho Avenue. (505) 526-1919.  www.mesillavalleymaze.com

Sept 3-4 - Hatch Chile Festival
The Mesilla Valley is the chile capital of the world, and what better way to celebrate than with a chile festival.  Sample some of the finest chile while you enjoy food, crafts, an auction, live music and more. Hatch. (505) 267-5050.  www.hatchchilefest.com

Sept 3-5 - Hillsboro Apple Festival
Located only an hour north of Las Cruces, Hillsboro is famous for apples.  Sample everything from world class apple pie to apple juice, caramel apples and much more. There are also arts and crafts for the whole family.  Hillsboro.  (505) 895-5686 

Sept 3-5 - New Mexico Wine Harvest Festival
Celebrate New Mexico’s wine harvest with grape stomping, wine tasting, live entertainment and lots of local flavor. Southern New Mexico State Fairgrounds. (505) 522-1232.  www.nmwine.net

Sept 17-18 - Diez y Seis de Septiembre Fiesta
Mexican Independence Day!  Join the village of Mesilla as they commemorate Mexico’s independence.  Be sure to catch folklorico dances, mariachi music, authentic Mexican cuisine and have a really good time. Old Mesilla Plaza. (505) 524-3262.  www.oldmesilla.org
Sept 17-18 - White Sands Balloon Invitational
A collection of colorful balloons filling the air over the white gypsum dunes of White Sands National Monument. (505) 430-7585, 800-826-0294.  www.nps.gov/whsa

Sept 23-25 - The Whole Enchilada Fiesta 
We have a chile festival and an apple festival, why not an enchilada fiesta! Downtown Las Cruces hosts one big street party complete with food, dancing, a parade and the making of the official world’s largest enchilada! Downtown Mall. (505) 526-1938.  www.twefie.com

Sept 28-Oct 2 - Southern New Mexico State Fair
The Southern New Mexico State Fair has something for everyone; a midway, an auction, food, music, livestock shows and a cowboy rodeo. Southern New Mexico State Fairgrounds.  (505) 524-8602.  www.snmstatefair.org

Oct  - La Viña Wine Festival
This festival is the oldest wine festival in New Mexico and features food, entertainment and of course, wine produced by New Mexico’s oldest winery. La Viña Winery, La Union. 
(505) 882-7632

Oct 1 - Trinity Site Tour
The Trinity site is the location of the first atomic bomb explosion on earth.  The site is open to the public twice a year. White Sands Missile Range. (505) 678-1134. www.nps.gov/whsa/home.htm

Oct 8 - 4th Annual Mesilla Jazz Happening
Mesilla Valley Jazz Happening will be swinging into historic Old Mesilla at the new Mercado Plaza and on the Historic Plaza. The Plazas will host free live jazz music at two venues. A special Wine Garden at each venue featuring eight New Mexico Wineries will provide wine tasting. Horse drawn wagons will offer free transportation between the Mercado and the historic plaza.  Old Mesilla Plaza.  (505) 524-3524, (505) 524-3262, (505) 523-6700. www.oldmesilla.org    

Oct 14-16 - 5th Annual "Land of Enchantment" RV FLY-IN
The friendliest little airport in the southwest. The largest fixed wing aviation event in New Mexico. Mexican food, mariachis and doorprizes.  Las Cruces International Airport, 8960 Zia Blvd. #16.  (505) 525-0500.  www.landofenchantmentflyin.com

Oct 15-16 - Cowboy Days
Nothing says the old west like the cowboy, and the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum honors the western legend with a weekend festival complete with roping and rid-ing demonstrations, “cowboy food”, dancing, and cowboy poetry.  New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum.  (505) 522-4100. www.frhm.org

Oct 29-Nov 2 - Dia de los Muertos
Celebrate the Day of the Dead with lots of music and food. Join the candlelight procession as the dead are remembered. Homemade altars are on display and a giant pinata is broken open.  Old Mesilla Plaza.  (505) 647-2639. www.oldmesilla.org

Nov 5-6 - 34th Annual Renaissance Craftfaire
Spend a weekend with Kings and Queens at the 34th Annual Renaissance Craftfaire. Local, state and regional artisans gather to participate in a juried art show and exhibition. Only the highest quality arts & crafts are for sale accompanied by live theater, dancing, music and food, all presented with a Renaissance theme. Young Park.  (505) 523-6403. www.zianet.com/daac

Nov 11-13 - International Mariachi Conference & Concert
A week long educational conference culminating with one spectacular concert featuring internationally known mariachi performers. Parque Festival  at Young Park features entertainment and cultural activities. New Mexico State University Pan American Center and Young Park.  (505) 525-1735. www.lascrucesmariachi.org

Dec 24 - Christmas Carols and Luminarias on the Plaza
The historic village of Old Mesilla is aglow with thousands of luminarias and caroling. 
(505) 524-3262.  www.oldmesilla.org